Collections overview

Adhering to the mission and values of Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Libraries, the purpose of collection management is to develop exemplary collections that support the University's academic programs, research agenda, health care and outreach efforts, and the overall direction of the future of VCU in its local and global presence. University faculty depend upon VCU Libraries to provide resources that enliven the learning experience. In turn, students rely on VCU Libraries for materials including media and technologies that allow for the creation of new knowledge. We are committed to building a collection that allows researchers at all levels across the VCU community to engage with information in the most creative ways possible.

Sustaining our journal collections

We are assembling, evaluating, and sharing some important information about journal package cost, usage, and growth trends. This will help us assess whether large journal packages, often called “Big Deals”, provide good value and represent a sustainable part of our overall investment in information on behalf of the University. More about sustainable investments and open access support.

Collection librarian contacts

Karen Cary, Head of Collection Analysis and Investment and Social and Behavioral Sciences Collections Librarian

Trial Databases

VCU Libraries users have temporary access to databases while they are under consideration for a subscription. Your feedback is very valuable in this selection process, so please let us know what you think of these resources.

Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy. Trial ends August 15, 2020. This resource contains nearly 330 videos of real human anatomic specimens in their natural colors, including 5 new, groundbreaking videos of the inner ear. Dr. Robert Acland presents moving structures - muscles, tendons, and joints - making the same movements that they make in life. The videos show complex structures step by step - from bone to surface anatomy - to provide a foundation for understanding anatomical structure and function.